Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-22
start and curse the pen slipped from

NO Oiiitp bot BiHoihH WIZ tipHR'
door at that critical moment when
John Chisholm was trying to steady
his hand. had sung out in what to the
mans quivering senses seemed O
weird, gibbering voice:
son the brink, on the brink
Only Il snatch from the chorus of an
old song, but the poor treasurer, with
his hands clasped behind him, strobe
rapidly up and down the long Office,
his mind filled with pictures crowding
and yet fast and yet faster before
his disordered Imagination.
In his overweight state he seemed
TO consider the deed really done,
for at last he exclaimed, 'I'll take il
ont I'll take it out; il shan't appear
against me - And Selling the fallen
pen he stared blankly at the last line
in the ledger, until fully realizing the
truth, he said family:
THANK God, hadn't entered it aft
er all -
A few moments later clerk entered
and Mr.. Chisholm started for home
saying he should not return to the
office that day.
As Helen Chisholm, an underlined
terror ut her heart, lowered about the
gerat chair into which her husband
had hunG himself, pale and haggard
implored to know what could ha We
happened, he burst out with kind OF
desperate determination TO tell all in
breeth:
Listen. my love, and you will UNI
derssand 10 ali in a moment. | saw
myself as one-Of those defaulters ! II
came about in this way: Because our
expenses were far in excess of our lie.
innate income, and because | have
been too weak to give up my own per-
Sonal pleasure or TO induce you 10
modify yours, began months ago TO plot
and plan some way of escape out of the
increasing TO Is of debt and embarrass =
ment. Finally began dreaming un-
easily of what seemed an easy way TO
elude my perplex ties. Only one Spuri-
Gus entry in the account books commit
ted to my care and the load was lifted
But the relief was only temporary.
Pretty soon another false entry wa,
necessary to relieve fresh indebted
ness, then third, and fourth.
until |, John Chisholm, was an EN- bez-
zler to IN amount il became Il flicult e.
manage. All at once there was a
breath of suspcion-a rash-eXposure
trial separation from YOU my best
beloved-a felon's cell and convict
garb-prison labor, Helen Helen
was on the brink on the brink
when somehow the mercy of God
saved me ~
The passionate recital brought relief;
then the husband and wife talked calm
ly together for hours. But long before
the lengthy conference was ended. john
Chisholm had tested the look of half
revealed frmness and strength that for
him had always lurked in the depth OF
his VIE Drown eyes.
Early the next morning Helen CHS
holm called at an engraver's and coun-
fernandez the order she had left tn,
day before. Thea she raped lightly
to the minister's door, and with u
womanly ring in her young voice, in.
vited Mrs Price with her fam Nv 10
dine with her on Christmas day. Next
note of invitation was dispatched tc
poor old Uncle Timothy.
And the quiet pleasure of the day So
impressed Uncle Timothy, it really
formed new topic of thought for Il
little while, but only for little
while.
There soon came a memorable da,
when some legal gentleman called on
the old man and informed him that :
claims on the land within the city linn
its were valid after all. And the rcac-
ton proved too much for his worn
mind. lie quietly settled his affairs
remembering John Chisholm patienc
and kindness to good purpose. and his
tardily recogn zed claims were rel n
pushed
John Chisholm is rich man to-day.
but wondrously prudent one lie
has long since Withdrawn from the
club OF which he was member pre-.
ferrino to concentrate his time and at
tentions on his family and home. And
he and his still charming wife hav,
discovered a far more acceptable way
of using their generous income than in
tempting others to follow an cxtrava-
giant or fash enable lead.
IL was somehow so significant, that
terrible temptation and timely warning
coming in connection with the Christ
day.
1t resulted in a strong resolve on his
part to avoid setting an example in
his daily life and manner of living.
which have tendency to urge OF
some hitherto upright but entangled
brother whose sw II approach to n like